The Purifying Bath

The morning light filtered into the small room where Wuye lay, his mind racing with thoughts of what was to come. The weight of his new life in the Tianlong Sect rested heavily on his shoulders, but with it came hope, a chance to carve his place in a world he'd only heard of in legends.

Li Zhang, true to his word, had prepared the medicinal bath before sunrise. Now, Wuye stood by the steaming cauldron of bubbling, herbal liquid, watching as it simmered with a faint green glow. The aroma was sharp, earthy, and tinged with the scent of unfamiliar herbs. Wuye hesitated, the heat of the bath radiating in waves.

"This bath will cleanse your body of impurities," Li Zhang explained as he stirred the water with a long wooden rod. "It will purge the toxins you've accumulated throughout your life, making your body more suitable for cultivation."

Wuye swallowed nervously. "Will it… hurt?"

Li Zhang gave a small nod. "It won't be pleasant. The process of expelling impurities can be painful, but it's a necessary step. Endure it, and you'll feel the difference in your body afterward." He turned to Li Zhang, his expression filled with quiet determination.

"I'm ready."

"Take off your clothes and get in. You'll feel discomfort, but the bath will draw out the impurities clogging your body. This is necessary if you want to progress," Li Zhang said, his tone firm but encouraging.

Wuye nodded and stripped down to his undergarments before stepping into the tub. The heat enveloped him immediately, a sensation so intense it felt as if the liquid was burning through his skin. He gasped, his muscles tensing as his body adjusted to the heat. Slowly, he sank deeper into the bath until he was submerged up to his neck.

At first, there was nothing but the overwhelming heat, but after a few moments, something began to shift. His skin tingled, and then a deep, gnawing sensation started from within his muscles and bones. It felt as though something inside him was being pulled out, and he suddenly realized what Li Zhang had meant by "discomfort."

The impurities in his body—the residue of a mundane life—were being purged.

A thick layer of grime began to rise to the surface of the bath, dark and oily. Wuye grimaced in disgust as he watched the filth seep from his pores, the impurities manifesting as a foul-smelling sludge that swirled in the water. His body shuddered with each wave of release, and the heat began to feel less like a burden and more like a cleansing fire.

"You're doing well," Li Zhang said from beside him, watching closely. "The impurities will continue to rise to the surface. Your body will feel lighter once they're gone."

For what felt like hours, Wuye remained in the bath, the grime steadily leaving his body. His muscles ached, his bones groaned, but beneath the discomfort, he felt something else—a sense of renewal, as though the bath was preparing his body for something greater.

Finally, when the water was thick with filth and Wuye felt as if he couldn't take it any longer, Li Zhang gestured for him to rise.

"That's enough for now," Li Zhang said. "Get out and dry yourself off."

Wuye stepped out of the bath on shaky legs, his entire body feeling strangely light, as if a great weight had been lifted from him. His skin glistened with a faint sheen, cleaner than he could ever remember. He grabbed the towel Li Zhang had set out and dried himself, trying to steady his breath.

As Wuye finished, Li Zhang approached with a folded set of robes in his hands. He held them out to Wuye with a small smile.

"These are your disciple robes," Li Zhang explained. "Every disciple is given robes that indicate their status within the sect. For you, an honorary disciple, you'll wear white robes with a crane embroidered on the collar."

Wuye unfolded the robes, revealing a beautifully crafted white garment with a delicately stitched crane at the neckline. The fabric was soft and light, but it carried a sense of importance. He slipped into the robes, feeling a sense of belonging as they settled on his shoulders.

Li Zhang continued, gesturing to his own attire. "Aspirant disciples, like myself, wear blue robes with a crane on the breast. Inner disciples wear blue robes as well, but the crane is embroidered on their back to signify their elevated status. Finally, the core disciples—those most talented and closest to the sect master—wear red robes with the crane on their back."

Wuye took in the details, noticing the difference in Li Zhang's style. His sleeveless robe was worn over a long-sleeved white inner shirt, and he wore a dark blue headband, giving him a more distinct and powerful appearance.

"You're free to style your robes as you like," Li Zhang added, noting Wuye's observation. "But the color and crane patterns must always indicate your rank."

Wuye nodded, grateful for the explanation. The robes felt both like an honor and a responsibility, a reminder of how far he had come and how far he still had to go.

"As for the sect itself," Li Zhang said, leading Wuye outside, "all outer disciples, like yourself, are generally at the Body Tempering stage, like I mentioned before. The overseers for the outer sect are typically older inner disciples. Inner disciples are usually at the Qi Condensation stage, but there are rare talents among them who are still at Body Refinement, waiting to break through."

Wuye frowned, his mind whirling with the new information. "And the core disciples? What stage are they in?"

Li Zhang's expression grew more serious. "Most of the core disciples are already at the Foundation Building stage. They are the elite of the sect, the ones closest to becoming true masters in their own right. For now, don't worry about that. Focus on yourself and your own growth."

Li Zhang turned and handed Wuye a small booklet. "Here's your training regimen. It's basic for now, focusing on strengthening your body and cultivating your qi. Each morning, you'll start with physical exercises to build endurance, followed by meditation to clear your mind."

He then handed Wuye a small scroll. "This is a simple mantra. It will help you regulate the flow of qi through your body and allow you to ponder Dao. You'll use this during meditation to center your thoughts and connect with the energy around you."

Wuye nodded, accepting both items with a mixture of anticipation and nervousness. He had barely begun, but already he felt the enormity of the path laid before him.

"After the purification bath, your body will be noticeably stronger," Li Zhang continued. "Try out the regimen for a few days and test your limits. The real work begins now."

As Li Zhang turned to leave, Wuye caught a glimpse of something more in his master's eyes—a flicker of curiosity, perhaps even concern.

"I'm going to speak with my master," Li Zhang said. "There are… things we need to discuss about your meridians and the anomaly we've noticed in your cultivation. Don't worry, it's nothing bad. Just focus on your training for now."

With that, Li Zhang departed, leaving Wuye alone in the courtyard to absorb everything.

While Wuye busied himself with his first attempts at the training regimen, high up in the mountains, two of the sect elders convened in a secluded chamber.

"I sensed it the moment he entered the sect," said Elder Yan, a wiry man with sharp, hawk-like eyes. "That boy possesses something unusual."

Elder Wei, a more reserved figure, nodded thoughtfully. "The disturbance in the natural flow of qi was unmistakable. He may possess a spirit root."

"A spirit root?" Elder Yan raised an eyebrow. "Do you believe he has the potential for such a thing?"

"Potential? It's possible. Such potential is rare," Elder Tian mused. "If nurtured properly, he could become an asset to the sect. But we must tread carefully."

Elder Wei sighed. "Indeed. We should monitor his progress. If he truly possesses a spirit root, the Tianlong Sect may be looking at its next great disciple."

The two elders exchanged a silent understanding. In the world of cultivation, talent was everything, and if Wuye truly had a spirit root, his future held boundless possibilities.

"Shall we inform the sect master?"

"No," the second elder said after a pause. "Not yet. Let us see how he develops under Li Zhang's guidance. If he truly possesses a spirit root, it will reveal itself soon enough."

Elder Yan sighed, leaning back in his chair. "If the boy possesses a spirit root, he'll either rise quickly or burn out just as fast. We'll watch him, but for now, let him walk his path."

As Wuye sat cross-legged in meditation, repeating the mantra Li Zhang had given him, he felt the faint stirrings of energy deep within his body. His qi was sluggish, but it moved. The effects of the medicinal bath were still settling in, and as he focused on the rhythm of his breath, he could feel a new strength coursing through his muscles.